JUNE 11, 2005

CANADIAN GP - SATURDAY - QUALIFYING SESSION 1 REPORT

Button it!

Any talk about cheating at Imola dried up rather suddenly in Montreal when Jenson Button nailed pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in his BAR-Honda. The team said at the European Grand Prix that its engines had suffered during the enforced lay-off for two races but the FIA refused to allow an engine change and so the team struggled in Germany but with new engines in the cars in Canada, the team was back on the pace and there were scenes of much rejoicing when Button took pole, ahead of Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Juan Pablo Montoya was the faster of the McLaren drivers with fifth while Takuma Sato in the second BAR was sixth fastest ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Jacques Villeneuve in the Sauber. The fuel loads involved are still not known but the grid is such that there are obviously different strategies involved.

"We expected to be reasonably quick," said Button, "but we did not quite expect to challenge the Renaults and McLarens. We have had a tough few months and the team has worked hard. It is great to give them something back. This means a lot to us. We have a good race package."

Michael Schumacher said that the car had improved a lot since the morning session but the handling of the Ferrari was obviously very difficult and the feeling was that the Ferrari was probably running with a light fuel load, in order to get a good track position for the race.

"I am feeling much more confident than I have been feeling this season," he said.

Other surprises were Jacques Villeneuve in eighth place, who enjoyed one minute fifteen seconds of fame when he was briefly on pole position, but the theory in the paddock was that the Canadian was probably on a light fuel load. If not, one has to ask the question why if he can go quickly in Montreal, can he not go fast at other tracks?

The top 10 was completed by Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher in their Toyotas.

There was disappointment (or a very different strategy) from the BMW Williams team which had to accept Nick Heidfeld in 13th and Mark Webber 14th.

Rubens Barrichello ended up at the back of the grid because of a mechanical problem.Button it!

Any talk about cheating at Imola dried up rather suddenly in Montreal when Jenson Button nailed pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in his BAR-Honda. The team said at the European Grand Prix that its engines had suffered during the enforced lay-off for two races but the FIA refused to allow an engine change and so the team struggled in Germany but with new engines in the cars in Canada, the team was back on the pace and there were scenes of much rejoicing when Button took pole, ahead of Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Juan Pablo Montoya was the faster of the McLaren drivers with fifth while Takuma Sato in the second BAR was sixth fastest ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Jacques Villeneuve in the Sauber. The fuel loads involved are still not known but the grid is such that there are obviously different strategies involved.

"We expected to be reasonably quick," said Button, "but we did not quite expect to challenge the Renaults and McLarens. We have had a tough few months and the team has worked hard. It is great to give them something back. This means a lot to us. We have a good race package."

Michael Schumacher said that the car had improved a lot since the morning session but the handling of the Ferrari was obviously very difficult and the feeling was that the Ferrari was probably running with a light fuel load, in order to get a good track position for the race.

"I am feeling much more confident than I have been feeling this season," he said.

Other surprises were Jacques Villeneuve in eighth place, who enjoyed one minute fifteen seconds of fame when he was briefly on pole position, but the theory in the paddock was that the Canadian was probably on a light fuel load. If not, one has to ask the question why if he can go quickly in Montreal, can he not go fast at other tracks?

The top 10 was completed by Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher in their Toyotas.

There was disappointment (or a very different strategy) from the BMW Williams team which had to accept Nick Heidfeld in 13th and Mark Webber 14th.

Rubens Barrichello ended up at the back of the grid because of a mechanical problem.